Nursing School in the Fraser Valley, B.C.

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I'm wondering if anyone who has gone through (or currently is going through) the BSN program with UFV can tell me if it is possible to go through nursing school without the regular use of a car? Are people able to commute back and forth to school and clinicals using public transit? I have only ever driven in the small, rural community that we live in now and am TERRIFIED at the thought of trying to navigate the highways and traffic in the city. I'm hoping to get a bus pass and just use public transit... that's environmentally responsible too right? LOL. Thanks for your help. :)

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I would highly suggest that you look at the transit that is offered in that area.

BC transit has been know to suck once you get past New West, with limited offerings in and around the tri-cities , not to mention the fact that its practically no exsits further east to Maple Ridge. The few times I have been to Abbotsford, I have never seen a bus.

I take it from your post you are new to the area.

Try, going to this website, http://www.translink.ca/ it will help you plan your route and see if it is viable to go to UFV without a car. I know two (now, finished BSN grads) from UFV and they both had cars.

You should know that for clinical placements, most schools have a clause that you are required to have realiable transit, which means a car. Espcially for clinical placements.

I attend a school in PoCo but have had my placements in Surrey... some of my classmate have had to travel very very far, about 1.5 hours each direction to get to the their clinicals too!

Good luck!

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Thanks so much for your reply. I sure wish there was somewhere to get my degree that didn't involve so much driving... I really hate driving! LOL. I am pretty sure I could manage the drive to school each day. I have a very supportive husband who is willing to relocate anywhere I need to in order to be a short drive from a college or university. I guess it is just the clinical placements that have me worried. Do they try to send students close to where they live or is it just random? Would it be inappropriate to request that? Sorry for all the questions (and thank you for answering!) but I am wondering if anyone from BC can tell me if there is a college or university in the Lower Mainland or even on Vancouver Island that would be better suited to someone who is REALLY nervous about driving in busy traffic. Thanks again for your help! :)

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Hi :) I am currently in my 5th semester at UFV in their BSN Nursing program :) (YAY FOR YEAR 3!!!). Anyways, there is no transit between the abbotsford campus and chilliwack campus. Chilliwack is where ALL of the nursing classes are (at the health sciences center). So, you need a car. Plus, in your 3rd year you will be doing a home health care rotation... that you will be needing a car for.

Your clinical placements will be between Mission, Hope, Abbotsford, and Chilliwack, sometimes even Agassiz. I do not know anyone in my class who still uses the bus unless they actually LIVE in chilliwack so they can get to school. I drive from Mission to chilliwack in my car everyday.. and to clinicals.

Private Message me if you have any more questions!

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Get more driving practice done,when you are finished you will need a way to get to work.

I use the bus here in Abby and they are always late,my career counselor said there s a bus running every 15 to UFV abby but i have not observed this.Maybe you could go to the bus stop and ask what you will definitely recognize as students,about the bus service.Go up to Chilliwack nursing dept & talk to students if you do not get alot of responses here Sarah is on point tho.

practice & gain confidence.

When are you starting UFV?

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